Don’t be Afraid to Relearn
Just the other day I picked up a new book called PHP: The Good Parts. I’ve been programming PHP for over 10 years, and the book covers a lot of beginner topics like control structures, variables, etc. However, there is some stuff towards the end that will be of great value. I plan on reading the (short) book cover-to-cover. Why you ask? I feel like I have to; after so many years, there are some things I should relearn the right way.
I don’t feel bad; it happens to all of us, even outside the realm of programming. You get into a habit, or always do something a certain way, or in the case of code, maybe you create a function or class that you’ve been using for years without updating it. In programming, things move really quickly- it’s almost a full time job just to keep up with the changing landscape.
A few things happened to me recently that made me realize I have to update my code and the way I code, and I’m grateful for it. I’m very upfront about saying if I’m doing something wrong, I’d like to know; I also like to think I’m not afraid to admit when I’m wrong. This is especially important since I’m a writer and public speaker. So, I decided to pick up a couple of books on just straight PHP programming. A lot of it may be review for me, but I’ll be paying close attention to some of the things I’ve assumed I’ve been doing right, or need to update because my way is no longer best practice. And most importantly, I’m not afraid to admit that I need to relearn some things the right way.
The absolute worst thing you can do as a programmer is get complacent. Maybe you think your way is the best, or maybe you think you know better than everyone else. If you don’t keep the mindset that you always need to learn new things and stay up-to-date, you’re going to fade really quickly. If you don’t like learning, you’re in the wrong field.
So over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to hold off on learning new stuff and focus on relearning things I already know. I’m really excited because I know that I’m not only making myself a better programmer, but my side projects, my clients, and my students will benefit from it. So you should ask yourself: What do you need to relearn?